Glendale Community College
Home MenuMarch 2024 • glendale.edu/StayingConnected
President's Corner
The beginning of the 2024 Spring semester featured two significant achievements for GCC, the debut of our new state of the art science building (Buena Vista); and GCC’s first year over year growth in credit enrollment in five years. One month into the semester and credit enrollment is up 13.9%. This puts us much closer to the projected 10% credit growth in our five-year planning. Noncredit for Spring is up 26%, well beyond our projection. These figures will likely bring the college out of hold harmless and place us on the Student Centered Funding Formula (SCFF).
- No Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)
- Pulling back on one-time funds already provided
- Removing funding for athletics, physical education, and enrichment courses
- Defunding College Promise
- And possibly defunding other state initiatives such as part-time office hours and healthcare.
With the opening of the Buena Vista Building, construction work will begin soon to repurpose the Camino Real Building (CR).
- Congress has approved our $1 million in funding for our Student Inclusion Center planned for CR’s second floor. While a bit below our original ask, this is a significant amount and considered a great success.
- The State has released our $4.5 million in funding for the Virtual Reality Center which will populate CR’s first floor. Special thanks to Senator Anthony Portantino for securing the funding. The VR Center’s transitional lab will be up in mid-May during construction of the permanent lab.
SB 971 Update
We have continued to meet with Senator Portantino’s staff to advocate for Senate Bill 971 which would exempt students displaced by war and conflict from paying the nonresident tuition fee. Student Trustee Elin Gharibian gave testimony March 20 in support of our efforts to better serve the community including those impacted by the conflicts in Artsakh and Ukraine.
Successful Debut of Puentes Al Futuro
On Saturday, March 9, GCC hosted Puentes Al Futuro, an event we hope to continue each year. Students and families from Latinx households were invited to the Verdugo Campus to learn about all the educational opportunities at GCC and specifically all the support we offer. More than 200 people attended to learn about the admissions process, financial aid, career pathways, college life, and more.
Buena Vista Building Opens
Fourth floor terrace, Buena Vista Building
Faculty and students are now holding classes throughout the building. In all, 25 labs will be home to Anatomy, Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Geology, Oceanography, and Physics. Thank you to all who helped prepare the building for the opening and to everyone for their patience while the rest of the construction is completed.
Arroyo Seco and Santa Barbara Demolition Begins
With the move to Buena Vista complete, demolition has begun on the Arroyo Seco and Santa Barbara buildings. Crews will spend a few weeks tearing down the structures and removing debris. They will be replaced with new parking spaces and accessible walkways.
Roadmap to Tomorrow
Campus Planning Discussion - Take online survey
CA Lottery Features GCC in Multiple Videos
In July, a creative content producer contacted GCC about filming students for a CA Lottery marketing campaign showing how Lottery funds benefit education. By embracing the collaboration, the creative agency ended up producing more than ten high quality videos featuring GCC programs that will be played on digital platforms throughout California over the next year. The first of those videos debuted Super Bowl week and featured GCC’s football program (watch here) garnering more than 2,100 likes on the Lottery Instagram account. The cost of production coupled with the advertising budget amounts to $800,000 of free marketing for the college. We’ll share links to other Lottery videos featuring GCC as they debut over the next year.
GCC in the News
Vic Gerami, Los Angeles-based Armenian American journalist and activist, published an article about Dr. Ryan Cornner’s SB 971 Bill in the Armenian Mirror-Spectator here.
Vic Gerami is writer, producer, and director of the documentary feature film Motherland that was screened at GCC in August 2022.
Women's Basketball in State Championship
The GCC Women's Basketball team recently completed a season to remember by advancing to the state championship finals before falling to defending champion Orange Coast College. The Lady Vaqs set school records with a 30-win season to finish 30-3 and also had a 25-game winning streak before the loss in the finals after four playoff wins. They won their fifth straight Western State Conference South Title. Five players including Malia Ulery, Osanna Tirityan, Paola Gorgeiz, Patil Yaacoubian and Evelyn Birau earned All-WSC honors. Maila Ulery and Osanna Tirityan earned all-state honors and Malia Ulery and Patil Yaacoubian earned all-state tourney honors. Congratulations Lady Vaqs on a great season!
Pulitzer Center Selects 2024 Fellow
Brittany Klintworth
2023 GCC Pulitzer Fellow
Samantha Smith
2024 GCC Pulitzer Fellow
The GCC Pulitzer Center has selected Samantha Smith as its 2024 Pulitzer Center Fellow.
On April 9, there will be a Pulitzer Center Student Seminar where the 2023 and 2024 fellows will discuss their experiences. It will be held from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Sierra Vista room 130. The event also includes a women’s history round table and journalism presentation.
Smith was chosen after deliberation with the Washington, D.C. based Pulitzer Center. She will be covering Formula 1 racing and the absence of women in the popular sport. She will be traveling to England this summer to conduct her interviewing and research.
Smith graduated from GCC last semester with an Associate's Degree in Journalism. She is continuing her education at California State University, Northridge with a BA in Journalism. Although she is an alumna, she will continue to represent GCC through her tenure as Fellow. Smith has had many opportunities to delve into the sports journalism world through her work with the college's Journalism Department newspaper, El Vaquero. She was a sports writer and interned in the summer of 2022 at NFL media. Her passions include empowering women in sports, which led her to the inequality in Formula 1. She is eager to raise awareness of the disadvantages that women attempting to become a Formula 1 driver face.
The 2023 fellow was Brittany Klintworth, who covered the intersection of fast fashion and feminism. She traveled to Italy to research sustainable fashion house Progetto QUID.
For information on the Pulitzer Center visit glendale.edu/Pulitzer.
Library's Jennifer Quinonez-Skinner Named GLA's Woman of the Year
Those who work with Jennifer Quinonez-Skinner already know the passion she brings to her role as Outreach and Student Engagement Librarian. That same dedication to improving lives in the Glendale community prompted the Glendale Latino Association to name her Woman of the Year during the GLA’s Annual Awards Luncheon. You can read about Jennie’s accomplishments on the GLA Awards Luncheon webpage.
During the same event, GCC counselor Cynthia Vazquez-Gonzalez hosted the presentation of scholarships to multiple college students including several from GCC. Cynthia herself, was a previous GLA scholarship recipient.
GCC CalWORKs Students Receive Live Your Dream Awards
Soroptimist International of Glendale presented the organization's annual Live Your Dream awards at a luncheon held at the Oakmont Country Club on March 21. Eight of the ten awards presented went to GCC CalWORKs students in amounts from $1,000 to $3,000. The recipients are: Jasmine Rios, Shushik Hovakimyan, Anna Grigorian, Maria Asatryan, Serine Aramyan, Silva Elbakyan, Nermin Gadallah and Ani Gevorkyan. Aarin Edwards, director of the CalWORKs parenting program, and CalWORKs staff members Pamela Rosas and Karen Tu were in attendance as was GCC board vice president and Soroptimist of Glendale member Desirée Portillo Rabinov.
Four other GCC CalWORKs students received Live Your Dream awards from the Santa Clarita chapter of Soroptimist on March 20. They are Kristine Davtyan, Gohar Veziryan, Mariam Khachatryan and Alvina Yeghiazaryan.
KCACTF at GCC
In February, GCC hosted the six-day Kennedy Center American College Region VIII Theatre Festival with students, faculty and staff visiting from colleges and universities from Hawaii, California, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Guam to participate in all areas of theatre. A set costume design showcase was among the many activities and workshops held around campus during the festival.
Theatre Arts Department students and faculty received regional recognition from the KCACTF that included:
Grace Temblador - Finalist in the SDC Directing Fellowship and awarded alternate status. Student Advisory Board, National Outstanding Member which will send Grace to participate in the National Festival in Washington D.C. $500 scholarship for Special Achievement in Storytelling
David Pumphrey and Sydnee Marks - Above and Beyond Awards for their work volunteering at festival
Harmony Elise Jones and Emily Torres advanced to the Finals of the Irene Ryan Scholarship Opportunity
Payton Ross received recognition in Devised Theatre for Excellence in Performance.
Emily Anasti and Brenda Malkonyan advanced to the Semi-Finals of the Irene Ryan Scholarship Opportunity
Jeremy Lewis was awarded the Kennedy Center, Gold Medallion, the highest honor in Theatre Education.
Melody Gunter was this year's recipient of the Excellence in Theatre in Higher Education.
New MESA Program Introduced
Near the end of the fall semester 2023, the MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) was launched to serve underserved and underrepresented students majoring in calculus based science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) academic fields who want to transfer to four-year institutions.
MESA director Ramona Barrio-Sotillo said of the program, "we are excited to have the MESA program at GCC to help support educationally, financially, historically underrepresented STEM students. The support comes in many different levels: academic support in the form of academic excellence workshops (AEW) tutoring and scholarship opportunities; counseling support by a designated MESA/STEM counselor; transfer support by providing help completing the transfer requirements and application; career support by introducing internship and research opportunities; and networking opportunities and conferences. But most importantly, students will be in a community of STEM majors who can support one another."
To find out more go to glendale.edu/MESA
Employee Appreciation Day
On March 6, Human Resources hosted Employee Appreciation Day at the Verdugo and Garfield campuses. Coffee, donuts, breakfast burritos, snacks, raffle and giveaways were offered to all who dropped by. Notecards were available for writing thank you messages to fellow employees to be delivered by HR. Check out photos from the day!
Picture Day
It's almost time for Picture Day!
Put on your biggest smile and come by for your professional headshot.
Snacks will be provided.
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Garfield Campus
9:00-10:30 a.m. MP 103
Verdugo Campus
12:30-2:30 p.m. AD 209
Nowruz Celebration at Garfield
Parker Award Recipient Ellen Oppenberg Gives Presentation
The Academic Senate's Parker award is named for William L. Parker, a philosophy professor, who was the first recipient in 1993. Each recipient’s name is added to the William L. Parker Award plaque in the Administration Building.
Hall of Fame
Chief's Safety Tips
Chief Sam provides articles on staying safe to share with the college community. Here are his tips for earthquake preparedness.
Connecting with...Andre Manukyan
Why did you choose to work at GCC?
Like many, my experience as a student at GCC was transformative, both inside and outside of the classroom. I attended GCC after graduating from Glendale High School and spent three years here as a student before continuing my education.
I still remember the professors and lectures during my time—they were some of the best classes I took in higher education. It was at GCC that Professor Kamei exposed me to issues of equity in society. I recall the anticipation of every student, leading up to October/November, as we would get the pleasure of hearing Professor Fonarow’s lecture on Halloween and the Day of the Dead. On Saturdays, Representative Adam Schiff would fly back from D.C. to teach political science. And, it was in my first semester that my dream of a 4.0 GPA was crushed by Professor Davenport, who required a 92% to get an A, I got a 90%, a devastating experience.
My time at GCC was also where I learned leadership skills and developed many other competencies through involvement in the Associated Students and other clubs and organizations. I was elected as a Senator, then a Vice President of Organizations, and then Vice President of Finance. Our executive team included Henan Joof (now Vice President at LATTC), Tzoler Oukayan (our very own Dean of Student Affairs), and myself, among others. Our advisors were Dr. Joe Puglia, Dr. Alen Andriassian, and Dr. Paul Schlossman. With them as advisors, it is no wonder so many, like myself, decided to work in higher education.
Despite having worked around the country, and at several four-year universities, my goal was always to return to GCC and contribute back to this college. Many at the University of Massachusetts did not understand why I would be leaving; I had just been promoted to the Assistant Director job at the 3rd largest residence life department in the country. But for me, the decision was easy—I was returning to contribute to the place that ignited my passion for the field. I returned in January 2016, first as a Student Activities Coordinator, and then in 2020, I was selected to launch and lead GCC CARES, the college’s new basic needs program.
Do you have a favorite memory working at GCC?
My favorite memory is one of this community coming together. Following the Safer-at-Home order, GCC became the first college to host a Drive-Through Food Bank with the LA Regional Food Bank (within weeks of the move to a remote learning environment). We did not know what to expect when we asked staff to volunteer at the distribution, but immediately over 60 signed up and showed up to support those in need.
What about your job makes you proud?
The dedicated team at CARES, that works to support the thousands of students that use the office. Without them, none of this would be possible.
One thing about you that might surprise your co-workers.
Michelle Obama and I have a selfie.
Other interests, hobbies, career achievements?
Traveling, especially to Europe.
A person who inspires you.
Two of them: Michelle and Barack Obama.
Favorite movies/TV Shows?
I don’t get a chance to watch TV, but the Ellen DeGeneres Show tops the list, which I’ve attended several times.
Favorite magazine/book?
I prefer to read the news, and the Apple News App is always my go-to as the algorithmic nature of it already knows what I want to read.
Favorite food?
Sushi (Main Course) & Crème Brulee (Dessert)
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